JOINING forces with the four other councils in Gwent could allow Newport City Council greater access to grants, a senior officer has said. At a meeting of the council's Performance Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, July 28, councillors discussed proposals to create a Gwent-wide Public Services Board. “I hope this will be a positive change,” said the council's policy partnership and involvement manager Tracy McKim. Public Services Boards enable public bodies to work together. They were launched as part of the Wellbeing for Future Generations Act 2015. A regional approach is encouraged in an Audit Wales Report and the Wellbeing for Future Generations Act 2015.